Country guide
Egypt weather by month
Egypt suits city breaks best in the cooler months, while spring and autumn offer a more comfortable balance for beach holidays. Average daytime temperatures rise from 21°C in January to 36°C in July and August, making summer a demanding time for long days outdoors. October stands out for swimming, with the sea still at 27°C. The main choice is between milder air for exploring and warmer water for spending time at the coast.
- Hottest month
- 36.4°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 20.8°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 28.8°CAugust
- Destinations tracked
- 4warmest: Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt, month by month
A little perspective
Egypt through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 4 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20.8°C | 11.8°C | 23.2°C | 7.9 | 3 | 1 | 7% |
| February | 22.2°C | 12.7°C | 22.4°C | 8.7 | 2 | 0 | 19% |
| Marchbest | 25.1°C | 14.9°C | 22.4°C | 9.6 | 3 | 0 | 50% |
| Aprilbest | 28.9°C | 18.2°C | 23.1°C | 10.4 | 1 | 0 | 88% |
| May | 32.7°C | 21.8°C | 24.9°C | 11.2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| June | 35.3°C | 24.2°C | 26.3°C | 13.3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| July | 36.3°C | 25.5°C | 28.1°C | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| August | 36.4°C | 25.9°C | 28.8°C | 12.6 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| September | 34.6°C | 24.4°C | 27.9°C | 11.7 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| October | 31.2°C | 21.5°C | 27.3°C | 10.1 | 1 | 0 | 99% |
| Novemberbest | 26.4°C | 17.5°C | 26.2°C | 8.5 | 2 | 0 | 71% |
| December | 22.4°C | 13.6°C | 24.5°C | 7.9 | 1 | 0 | 16% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Egypt
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. The sea reaches a swimmable 22°C from January to December. Winter (December to February) averages 22°C by day - genuine winter sun. January is the wettest month (3 mm) and May the driest (0 mm).
Destinations in Egypt
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada | August 35°C | January 20°C | 8 | 28°C | 5 h 36 min |
| Sharm El Sheikh | August 39°C | January 22°C | 9 | 29°C | 5 h 36 min |
| Cairo | July 37°C | January 19°C | 8 | - | 5 h 6 min |
| Marsa Alam | August 36°C | January 22°C | 9 | 29°C | 5 h 54 min |
Warmest place in Egypt each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Marsa Alam | 22°C | Cairo | 19°C | Sharm El Sheikh 23°C |
| February | Marsa Alam | 23°C | Cairo | 21°C | Marsa Alam 23°C |
| March | Sharm El Sheikh | 26°C | Hurghada | 24°C | Marsa Alam 23°C |
| April | Sharm El Sheikh | 31°C | Hurghada | 27°C | Marsa Alam 24°C |
| May | Sharm El Sheikh | 35°C | Hurghada | 31°C | Marsa Alam 25°C |
| June | Sharm El Sheikh | 38°C | Hurghada | 33°C | Marsa Alam 27°C |
| July | Sharm El Sheikh | 38°C | Hurghada | 34°C | Marsa Alam 29°C |
| August | Sharm El Sheikh | 39°C | Hurghada | 35°C | Marsa Alam 29°C |
| September | Sharm El Sheikh | 37°C | Hurghada | 33°C | Marsa Alam 29°C |
| October | Sharm El Sheikh | 33°C | Hurghada | 30°C | Marsa Alam 28°C |
| November | Sharm El Sheikh | 28°C | Cairo | 25°C | Sharm El Sheikh 26°C |
| December | Marsa Alam | 24°C | Cairo | 21°C | Sharm El Sheikh 25°C |
The year: mild winters, hot summers
January and February bring the mildest daytime conditions, making winter a sensible choice for a Cairo break focused on being outdoors. Evenings need more thought: January nights average 12°C, so pack a jumper or light jacket rather than relying on daytime warmth. March and April offer a useful middle ground before May brings a sharper heat burden. From June through September, plan outdoor time early or late and leave room for an indoor break at midday. October remains hot, but November is a gentler option at 26°C by day and 17°C at night. December returns to mild days and cooler evenings.
Beach holidays: choose the air and sea balance
For a beach holiday without the strongest summer heat, April, May, October and November deserve a close look. Spring warms the air before the sea fully catches up: April averages 29°C by day, but the water is 23°C. Autumn reverses that balance, with November offering both daytime and sea temperatures of 26°C. That makes it particularly appealing if you want swimming without very hot afternoons. July and August suit travellers who actively enjoy heat, though shade and midday breaks matter even beside the water. Winter can work for a milder beach stay, but the sea drops to 22°C in February and March, so swimming comfort depends on your tolerance.
Where to go: coast versus city
Sharm El Sheikh is the warmest destination across the year, with average daytime temperatures of about 31°C, while Hurghada is the coolest at about 28°C. That gives Sharm the edge if warmth is your priority, but Hurghada's lower annual average does not make it a cool summer option. For Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam, weigh sea temperature alongside afternoon heat rather than choosing on daytime warmth alone. For Cairo, focus instead on comfortable hours outdoors and the drop in temperature after dark. Treat the annual contrast as a broad guide, not a promise that the same gap holds every month.
A little more detail
Egypt weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 4 destinations, the best months for Egypt are April, November, March. August is the hottest month (average high 36.4°C) and January the coolest (20.8°C).
How many months is Egypt over 25°C?
9 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Egypt destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Egypt?
Over the year, Sharm El Sheikh has the highest average daytime temperature of the 4 Egypt destinations we track (30.9°C averaged across all months).
When is the best time for a Cairo city break?
The cooler months are the more comfortable choice for days spent outdoors. Winter favours daytime exploring, while March and November offer a warmer compromise. Pack an evening layer, and avoid choosing midsummer if prolonged heat would limit your plans.
Is Egypt warm enough for a winter beach holiday?
Winter suits travellers who prefer mild beach weather to intense heat. January averages 21°C by day, with sea temperatures of 23°C. February has slightly warmer days but cooler water at 22°C, so do not expect consistently warm swimming conditions.
Which months are hottest in Egypt?
July and August share the highest average daytime temperature at 36°C. August also has the warmest nights at 26°C and the warmest sea at 29°C. These months suit heat-tolerant beach travellers better than anyone planning long stretches outdoors in cities.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 4 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C